"The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear." (2Tim. 4:3) (CEV)
When I was a child I liked to hear my grandfather tell us stories about his younger days and adventures. Little did we know that he was sometimes making up stories that will be interesting to us. On the other hand, if my mother will be scolding me I did not like it one bit. I did not like to hear her say go and study when I wanted to play. So is the case with other people too. But this kind of wanting to hear only good things has carried over on to the spiritual realm also. Humanity because of their sin nature wanted to do whatever they wanted to do.
Paul writing to Timothy is pointing out this fact. People like to hear things that will make them feel good. Many preachers have understood the psychology of the people and will preach the Word of God with no intent to bring the sharpness of it to the hearers. The unfortunate result is a very loose preaching satisfying everyone. They cater to the hearers who have itching ears to hear a new story or a joke. How many times have we heard people say, “Nothing new”. We have become superficial pandits of the Word of God. Very few want to delve into the depths of God’s Word they don’t like it. Many don’t want to pray or read the Bible. Let us find preachers of the Word who will deliver a message in its gravity. It is then that sinners will repent, and backsliders will be restored. Let us like the Bereans examine the scriptures to verify the preaching. Let us please God and not man. AMEN.
